Latest news with #IrishSeniorWomen'sAmateurCloseChampionship
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
McCormack scratches his 20-year McIlroy itch with first Irish Close Championship
Eddie McCormack (Galway Bay) claimed his first Irish Senior Men's Amateur Close Championship in emphatic style at Nenagh Golf Club on Friday afternoon, twenty years after losing the final of the Irish Men's Amateur Close Championship to a young Rory McIlroy. Deirdre Smith also walked away with silverware, as the County Louth golfer overturned the disappointment of losing last year's decider in Kilkeel to claim a dramatic Irish Senior Women's Amateur Close Championship win on the 19th hole of her playoff against Sinead Benedetti (Roscommon). Karl Bornemann (Douglas) retained his Irish Veteran Men's Amateur Close Championship, and it was Fionnuala Halpin (Dun Laoghaire) who claimed the Irish Senior Women's Amateur Close Plate. The Senior Men's final would be a battle of two champions, as reigning Irish Senior Men's Close Stroke Play champion McCormack took on Irish Senior Men's Open Champion, Andrew Morris (Royal Portrush) in the final, after the pair battled past Pat Murray (Adare Manor) and David Hunt (Nenagh) in the morning semi-finals. McCormack would get in front early and, by his own admission, kept 'the foot to the floor' as he made the turn, 6up thru nine, before sealing his 7&6 victory on the 12th hole to become the first player to win both the Irish Close Stroke Play and Match Play in the same season. 'Delighted to be champion, played very, very well today, especially this afternoon,' said McCormack 'I felt as if I couldn't give him (Morris) breathing space at all because he is such a good player.' 'Any win is a nice win. It's nice to win an Irish title, it's another one to relish.' Reminiscing on his match against McIlroy in the final of the Men's Close at Westport two decades ago, McCormack smiled at the memory. 'He was phenomenal, so he was, I was afraid of him that day,' said McCormack. 'I didn't win the close 20 years ago but I won it today so it's brilliant.' SMOOTH EXIT: Deirdre Smith who won the Irish Senior Men's & Women's Close Championships, Nenagh, Tipperary Pic: INPHO/Leah Scholes Leading qualifier Smith advanced to the final of the Irish Senior Women's Amateur Close thanks to a 5&3 win against Maria O'Reilly (Headfort) while Benedetti had a 3&1 victory over Tracy Eakin (Dooks). It was an enthralling final and when Smith got up and down from a greenside bunker on 18 to force a playoff, she had the momentum behind her and won with a par on the first extra hole. 'I lost it in pretty poor fashion last year and I was really disappointed, so I set out to exorcise those demons today,' said Smith. 'Anytime you win an Irish championship it takes a lot of hard work and a lot of dedication and a lot of soul searching at times and to be proud of that is good. They are the really important things; the trophy is not really what it's all about it's all the other stuff that people don't see.' At the R&A Boys' Amateur at County Louth, there was disappointment for John Doyle, who lost on the 20th in his quarter-final to Spaniard Yago Horno. The Fota Island teenager was 2up with four holes to play, but Horno won 15 and 16, and then took the match on the second extra hole. Doyle's defeat ended Irish hopes of a first win since 1986. Horno defeated Sweden's Oscar Stendahl by two holes in the semi-final and will play the Netherlands' Guus Lafeber, son of former European Tour player Maarten, in the final.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
David Hunt books semi-final spot, Deirdre Smith strong form continues
David Hunt is keeping local hopes alive as the Nenagh member booked his place in the semi-finals of the Irish Senior Men's Amateur Close Championship. The 2024 club president battled through two tough matches on Thursday, edging past Tony Cleary (East Clare) 1up in the morning before defeating Mark Ford (Cork) 2&1 to cap a brilliant afternoon for the Tipperary club. 'A long day and two really tough matches,' said Hunt. 'I played with Mark in the qualifiers and he's an exceptional player, so I knew it was going to be tough and I've played against Tony before, it's always close.' Roared on by strong home support, Hunt will face Irish Senior Men's Amateur Open Champion Andrew Morris (Royal Portrush) tomorrow. 'I'm so grateful to them. The club has been tremendous through the week,' said Hunt. 'The course is exceptional, and everything has run really well. 'Tomorrow's another day, we'll just take it as one match at a time, one shot at a time.' Morris too is chasing history, aiming to become the first player since the late Maurice Kelly in 2010 to win both the Irish Senior Men's Amateur Open and Close titles in the same season. He advanced with wins over Shane Kenneally (Kinsale) 1up and Joe Lyons (Galway) 4&3. In the other semi-final, Irish Senior Men's Amateur Close Stroke Play Champion Eddie McCormack (Galway Bay) meets Pat Murray (Adare Manor). McCormack beat Johnny Ward (Banbridge) 4&3 to reach his second consecutive final, while Murray staged a late surge to see off Alan Condren (Greystones) 1up. The Irish Senior Women's Amateur Close Championship is also down to its last four, with leading qualifier Deirdre Smith (County Louth) continuing her strong form. The 2022 champion and last year's runner-up defeated Sheena McElroy (Grange) 5&3 before a dominant 7&6 win over Clandeboye's Nikki Currie. 'Just played solid to be honest, didn't do anything crazy. Birdied the first, so I got off to a nice start,' said Smith. 'Played par golf and got up early and sometimes when you get up early you sort of consolidate it and that's kind of what happened.' 'Last year is last year and it's gone. I'm not putting pressure on myself, there's more to life than golf.' 'Hopefully we're in the final, it would be great, but it's not going to make or break me.' Smith will meet Maria O'Reilly (Headfort), who edged Alison Taylor (Malahide) 1up in her quarter final. On the other side, 2023 champion Tracy Eakin (Dooks) will face Sinead Benedetti (Roscommon). Eakin defeated Joanna Campbell (Royal County Down Ladies) 3&1, while Benedetti prevailed over Laura Webb (Royal Portrush) on the 20th hole. Friday will also see semi-final action in the Irish Senior Women's Amateur Close Plate and the Irish Veteran Men's Amateur Close Championship. Mary MacLaren (Royal Portrush) will face Aileen Hanratty (Donabate) in the opening women's match, with Orla Foley (Headfort) taking on last year's runner-up, Fionnuala Halpin (Dun Laoghaire). In the Veteran Men's, defending champion Karl Bornemann (Douglas) plays John Mitchell (Tramore), while Castlemartyr's John O'Brien takes on David Kinneen (Galway Bay).
